10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 2 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 73,017 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
My truck is a 2012 platinum model with the 3.5L ecoboost motor. Motor failed at 60K miles due to head gasket leak and had to be replaced. Less than a month later I am now dealing with a "service advancetrak" message and steering wheel is locking up completely while trying to make right hand turns. Vehicle is very frightening to drive and has pulled me into oncoming traffic 2 times. Dealer is saying the truck needs a new steering rack and $2K to fix.
- Phoenix, AZ, USA
The service advancetrac warning light comes on and the blinkers will not function.
- Minotola, NJ, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. While driving 45 mph, the power steering system malfunctioned and the contact loss complete steering assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 160,000.
- Norman, OK, USA
Bought truck less than a year ago with 28K miles on it. I now have 37K and my service advancetrac light would come on intermittently. I noticed too that the steering felt kind of clunky and would make a strange grinding type noise, mostly at low speeds. I brought it in to a local dealer and they diagnosed the problem and had to replace the steering rack. $1754! when I bought the used, very low mileage, one owner truck I thought I struck gold. Not quite, but love the truck otherwise! a poorly designed steering system seems to be common for these. Shame on Ford for not owning up to this problem. More about profit I guess.
- Byrnes Mill, MO, USA
I have a 2012 Ford F-150 FX4 with less than 60,000 miles on it. The electronic power steering failed unexpectedly. Fortunately the vehicle was stationary when this occurred. Although I was not moving, I happened to be over thirty miles from home. My concern is that this issue could possibly present itself while the vehicle is in motion. I am in decent shape and was absolutely exhausted by the time I arrived at home. My thoughts went to my wife operating the truck in traffic, with my children in it, which in my eyes poses a very real safety hazard. I have contacted Ford customer care several times and received not help, or potential solutions.
- Walnut Ridge, AR, USA
My vehicle went into the dealership 3 times for diagnostics/repair. Each time it was the advance service track light coming on which disables the turn signals. Each time the vehicle was in, they replaced sensors. This third time they diagnosed that the steeeing rack needed to be replaced. I have read in the Ford F-150 forum that this is a common problem in this model year. Same story, the truck goes in 3 to 4 times with the same light and they finally diagnose the true issue which cost between $1700-$2500. My vehicle is less than 5 yrs old and only 45K miles on it. My understanding speaking with the service tech and manager this part of the vehicle should not wear out in 5 yrs. The steering rack should last at least 80K miles to the life of vehicle. Please look into this issue and if needing me to explain more information please contact me. Thank you.
- Silverdale, WA, USA
Power steering rack went out while driving back from vacation/ disney. Family in vehicle. Loss of steering/steering become tight and hard to steer. Extremely dangerous! on the highway going 75 mph.
- Ashland, VA, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. While driving 65 mph, the power steering seized. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 101,000. Updated 05/16/17
- South Amboy, NJ, USA
Received a "service advance trac" warning on the dash display, followed by advancetrac warning light illumination. Took vehicle to dealer and was told that there was a fault with the steering gear, and the entire steering box had to be replaced at a cost of over $1850. The dealer said if it had failed completely, it would have likely resulted in loss of steering. Checking online, it seems Ford is recalling older vehicles for this problem, but not trucks this new, and is instead making customers pay for what is clearly a defect.
- Issaquah, WA, USA
Power steering went completely out while trying to park at work. No warning at all. Ford does not back this up with a recall as yet. Cost $1772.29 to repair. Had 93,217 miles on truck.
- Corapeake, NC, USA
Lost power steering while driving on a freeway. I was able to drive vehicle home. But vehicle unsafe to drive. Ford needs to make a power steering recall to this vehicle before somebody dies....
- Houston, TX, USA
After speaking with Ford Motor Company I thought I should file a complaint on here as well. My husbands 2012 Ford F150 power steering shut off while driving down the road. After much research, it appears his is by far not the only one. Apparently other models of the same year have had recalls but not the F150. I was told go get it checked out and fixed and if we issue a recall, you might get a refund. $2200 and we can get it checked out and fixed if they see the problem. This is not an in and out service and its very disappointing a company that has been around since 1903 has turned to such poor quality in service. Everyone needs to file a complaint so they will stop taking advantage of the loyalty of the customers.
- Satsuma, AL, USA
When making sharp turns my truck would get a " service advancetrac" alarm. After I turned the vehicle off and restarted it would go off. Now it is on and will not go off and my turn signals don't work, so I cannot drive truck. It has 66,000 miles on it. I have read about a 100+ different statements from other Ford truck owners with the same issue. I don't have $2,000 to have it fixed. I have always had Ford and this issue is really making me think that I should have bought this truck. Ford should fix this problem since so many have had problems. I spent a lot of money buying this truck and bought it out of loyalty to Ford and they should recognize this defect and be loyal to its customers and fix this problem free of charge. Before someone gets hurt or killed. My truck is a 2012 Ford F150 xtr 44. This complaint probably won't do anything but I wish it would. Now I have a truck I can't drive. This is B.S.
- Hillsboro, OH, USA
While driving down the highway my power steering suddenly stopped working resulting in difficulty controlling my vehicle. I had the vehicle towed to maxwell Ford in austin, tx and after several days they determined the issue was a failed power steering gear/motor and replaced it at my expense for approximately $1800. Doing basic online searching there are tons of other people with various year models of F-150S reporting the same issue. This would appear to be related to other vehicles that have similar issues that have recalls, but 2012 F-150S do not seem to be included.
- Blanco, TX, USA
The service advance trac warning light appeared on the vehicle console after a sharp turn, turn signals would not work while the warning light was on. Hit the ok button as indicated on the vehicle console, and the warning light went off. Turned off vehicle and after restarting the vehicle and driving forward the service advance trac warning went off. Since the vehicle is a 2012 with 65,000 miles it is not covered under warranty from Ford. The warning turns on after turning sharply out of a parking space or backing out of a driveway. Sometimes the warning comes on several days in a row and other times after it clears it will stay off for days.
- Kearney, NE, USA
The service advance trac warning light appeared on the vehicle console, turn indicators would not work while vehicle was moving, or stationary. Hit the ok button as indicated on the vehicle console, and the warning light went off. Turned off vehicle and after restarting the vehicle and driving forward the service advance trac warning went off. Drove to a local lowes store approximately 2 miles away. After returning to the vehicle and putting the vehicle in drive, the power steering would not work and a new warning appeared epas "electric power assist " fail and the service advance trac warning also came on. Called a tow truck and was towed to local Ford dealership. Since the vehicle is a 2012 with 53,000 miles it is not covered under warranty from Ford. I was very fortunate that I was not driving the vehicle on the busy highway "wilma rudolph blvd." I had been on just a few moments prior to the steering problem as I am sure an accident would have been very hard to avoid.
- Clarksville, TN, USA
Rattle in steering, can be felt in steering wheel. Can be felt mostly when going in a straight line. Vehicle does not have to be on rough road to feel and hear rattle. Purchased vehicle used, but this problem is reported by many owners!
- Lower Burrell, PA, USA
While driving on three separate occasions within the last two weeks the vehicle steering has locked up while in motion. Two of these incidents were while I was driving at approximately 70 mph on toll 130 outside of central Texas. The last incident happened August 3, 2016 while driving in a 45 mph zone and curve on a city street.
- Lago Vista, TX, USA
I was driving on the freeway on our way to vacation and had pulled off to visit a friend. When we went to the store my electronic stability control warning came on but the vehicle still drove fine. After we came out of the store the power steering was completely gone and almost impossible to drive. I'm lucky it didn't fail on the freeway. It ended up being the steering angle sensor and cost 2K to fix(they had to replace the whole steering gear assembly). The truck only has 50K miles on it and I was told it was not covered under warranty. I called Ford and they were no help. I am just lucky it didn't happen on the freeway. I checked the forums and this has happened to others and caused them to lose control of the vehicle.
- Cove, UT, USA
- Waldorf, MD, USA